The Lord is commanded of the Father to place the words of Malachi into the scriptural record for the Saints in the New World (see 3 Nephi 24:1)—including the celebrated statement concerning the ancient prophet Elijah just cited (see 3 Nephi 25:5–6). This statement is the only reference to Elijah in the Book of Mormon. Elijah commenced his earthly ministry around 926 BC, and it continues even to this day. Malachi is inspired to foretell the return of Elijah and refer to his function regarding the sealing powers for the families of Zion (see D&C 110:13–16). Through the spirit of Elijah, the hearts of the people are turned to the eternal preservation of the family. We seek after our dead and perform vicarious temple work for them under the authority of the priesthood. This is part of the three-fold mission of the Church (see D&C 2; 128:15, 24; 138:53–54).
The angel Moroni, appearing to the young Prophet Joseph, delivers Malachi 4:5–6 as follows: “BEHOLD, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming” (D&C 2:1–3). A significant difference between this statement and the version included in the Book of Mormon and the Bible is the reference to the “Priesthood”—surely a reminder of the need for Elijah to convey the sealing keys to the leadership of the restored Church, which occurs in the Kirtland Temple on April 3, 1836. The Doctrine and Covenants’ wording also uses the words “plant in the hearts” and “be utterly wasted” as variants of expression. Concerning this important prophecy, the Prophet Joseph Smith taught:
Now, the word turn here should be translated bind, or seal. But what is the object of this important mission? or how is it to be fulfilled? The keys are to be delivered, the spirit of Elijah is to come, the gospel to be established, the Saints of God gathered, Zion built up, and the Saints to come up as saviors on Mount Zion.
But how are they to become saviors on Mount Zion? By building their temples, erecting their baptismal fonts, and going forth and receiving all the ordinances, baptisms, confirmations, washings, anointings, ordinations and sealing powers upon their heads, in behalf of all their progenitors who are dead, and redeem them that they may come forth in the first resurrection and be exalted to thrones of glory with them; and herein is the chain that binds the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, which fulfills the mission of Elijah. And I would to God that this temple was now done, that we might go into it, and go to work and improve our time, and make use of the seals while they are on earth.
The Saints have not too much time to save and redeem their dead, and gather together their living relatives, that they may be saved also, before the earth will be smitten, and the consumption decreed falls upon the world.
I would advise all the Saints to go with their might and gather together all their living relatives to this place, that they may be sealed and saved, that they may be prepared against the day that the destroying angel goes forth; and if the whole Church should go to with all their might to save their dead, seal their posterity, and gather their living friends, and spend none of their time in behalf of the world, they would hardly get through before night would come, when no man can work; and my only trouble at the present time is concerning ourselves, that the Saints will be divided, broken up, and scattered, before we get our salvation secure; for there are so many fools in the world for the devil to operate upon, it gives him the advantage oftentimes. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, comp. Joseph Fielding Smith [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1976], 330)
The key to understand this important passage referred to in each of the standard works (see Malachi 4:5–6; Luke 1:17; 3 Nephi 25:5–6; D&C 2; 110:15; Joseph Smith—History 1:38–39;) is to know that families are important, being the very essence of the plan of salvation and the work and glory of God (see Moses 1:39). We know that Elijah came to restore the priesthood keys and sealing powers for this work (see D&C 110:13–16). It is important that parents and children turn their hearts toward their living family to strengthen and bless each other. President Harold B. Lee made this clear when he said:
Now keep in mind this: that when the full measure of Elijah’s mission is understood, that the hearts of the children will be turned to the fathers, and the fathers to the children. It applies just as much on this side of the veil as it does on the other side of the veil. If we neglect our families here in having family home night and we fail in our responsibility here, how could we feel that we are doing our full duty in turning the hearts of our children to their fathers… . So, the hearts of you fathers and mothers must be turned to your children right now, if you have the true spirit of Elijah, and not think that it applies merely to those who are beyond the veil. Let your hearts be turned to your children, and teach your children; but you must do it when they are young enough to be properly schooled. If you are neglecting your family home evening, you are neglecting the beginning of the mission of Elijah just as certainly as if you were neglecting your genealogy research work. (Priesthood Genealogy Seminar, 1973; quoted in Leaun G. Otten and C. Max Caldwell, Sacred Truths of the D&C, 2 vols. [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1982], 1:16.)
It is our sacred privilege to serve as saviors on Mount Zion (see Obadiah 1:21) for those who have gone on before, thus honoring the covenant that the Lord did indeed plant in our hearts with the coming of Elijah. We then can help perfect ourselves and our kindred (see D&C 128:15). The account of our dead and the performing of these ordinances becomes part of “a book containing the records of our dead, which shall be worthy of all acceptation” (D&C 128:24). Our testimony about the restoration of the keys brought by Elijah will inspire and empower us to care for our families and those who have gone on through family research and temple work.